Mother to Son
Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
Langston Hughes
I like the theme this poem signifies to me. It signifies determination, that even when you face a difficult road turning back is not the best option because the bumps and turns strengthen you in ways you would not have imagined.
ReplyDeleteI think the diction is used to show the speakers experience of trouble and hardship. It gives the feel of a person who probably did not go to college or maybe even high school, but fought through life by working hard, and although they know their life has "been no crystal stair", they tell their son to never give up because in all their work they have learned the value of determination and hard work.
I like this poem because it's main message is to never give up. I believe that in life the people who are determined are are able to work through hard times, when everything is going against them, are the most successful. Our character isn't only shaped by our success, but instead more by our mistakes. When we fall dow it's important to get back up and become a stronger person from it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line is, "Don't you set down on the steps Cause you finds it's kinder hard." This shows that a person should never give up when the going gets tough.
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ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe this poem is all about perseverance. The author describes life as anything but ideal. In other words, there will seldom be a time in which your life goes exactly as planned. In fact, there will be plenty of times in your life that an unexpected struggle knocks you down. The true challenge in life is to not only learn from your mistakes, but also take the hits that life throws at you. No person can prevent all of their struggles from occurring in life. We as people must realize that struggle breeds toughness. Ultimately, our struggles will shape us into stronger people and continue to enrich us as individuals when we come back from these tough times.
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